Assignment - Case Study Report

Preamble

Dr Dorothy "Dodo" Littlewas extremely impressed with our computing firm's - Kinkajou Technologies - development of the All Creatures Great and Small's Database Management System (DBMS) utilising Microsoft Access 2007/2010/2013 and Decision Support System (DSS) utilising Microsoft Excel 2007/2010/2013.

Dr Dorothy "Dodo" Littlerealises that the business has a lot to learn and that the business will need to invest considerable money to bring the business into the modern online business world, from their current single computer mail order set-up. Dr Dorothy "Dodo" Littlehas contracted our firm to advise the business on how they can grow their mail order business into a cutting-edge online presence. The business has asked us to develop a report to provide them with information about the following topics that they see as key to their business' growth:

• How can the business move from mail order to being an online presence?
• What type of hardware and software, including networking infrastructure, should the business acquire to expand their capabilities to meet their new e-business initiative?
• What would be the benefits to the business of using business intelligence?
• What would be the benefits to the business of implementing a collaboration system?
• What issues should the business be aware of when embarking on a social media presence?

Mrs Hyacinth Macaw, your manager, has set up the following tasks for you to complete this project: Refer to the marking criteria for details of mark allocations.

Task 1: Journal (maximum 500 words)

Prepare a journal that records your activities and progress related to completing this assignment. In date order, clearly list the following:

• Date of research activity/discussion
• Full description of research activity / discussion (at least 25 words)
• Web sites visited to collect information; other references accessed (using Harvard AGPS Referencing style - submitted separate to the List of References in Task 2).
• Time duration of the activity

If you are working in a team, clearly state the activities of each team member.

Task 2: Case study (max 4,500 words) -

Report Structure and Presentation:          

Your report should include a professional title page, computer generated Table of Contents (including List of Tables and List of Figures) and Appendices.

Note: Make sure to state the names of all students involved in the report on the title page.

Report Letter of Transmittal, Executive Summary and Introduction:          

Your report should include a letter of transmittal, executive summary, and introduction to the report.

Report Section 1 - E-Business and Mobile Business: How can the business move from mail order to being an online presence?

• What are the benefits and challenges that the business should be aware of before becoming an e-business?
• What are the characteristics of Web / Business 2.0? How should the business address these characteristics when setting themselves up as an e-business?
• Which type(s) of e-business model(s) should the business be considering implementing? Why?
• What type of e-commerce tools should the business consider utilising to connect and communicate with their customers? Why?
• What tools should the business use to measure their e-business success?
• Should the business also consider implementing m-business? What are the benefits and challenges Dr Dorothy "Dodo" Little will need to be aware of?

Report Section 2 - Hardware, Software and Networking Infrastructure: What type of hardware and software, including networking infrastructure, should the business acquire to expand their capabilities to meet their new e-business initiative?

• Develop a computer hardware proposal (including printer(s)) to allow the business to provide up to twenty (20) staff with computer access, including current Australian prices for the equipment . Justify why this hardware is necessary for the business.
• Develop a computer software proposal, including both system and application software, to support the proposed computer hardware proposal, including Australian prices for the software . Justify why this software is necessary for the business.
• Develop a networking and communications proposal, including a suggested network architecture, topology and communication medium to support the proposed computer hardware and software proposal. Justify why this networking infrastructure has been chosen for the business.
• Include a diagram of the proposed hardware and network infrastructure to help Dr Dorothy "Dodo" Little visualise what you are recommending.

Report Section 3 - Business Intelligence: What would be the benefits to the business of using business intelligence?

• How could the business use business intelligence? Outline for Dr Dorothy "Dodo" Little how business intelligence can assist the business decision making.
• How could the business use data mining to gain competitive advantage? What type of data mining would best suit the current businesses analysis needs? Why?
• What type of business intelligence tools would best suit the businesses current needs? Why?

Report Section 4 - Collaboration Systems: What would be the benefits to the business of implementing a collaboration system?

• How could the business benefit from using a collaboration system with its external partners? Outline how the business could implement such a collaborative system from both the structured and unstructured collaboration categories.
• How could the business benefit from using a knowledge management system? What are the types of explicit knowledge assets that could be easily managed with such a system? Why?
• How could the business benefit from the use of a content management system? What type of content management system would be of most value to the business? Why?

Report Section 5 - Social Media: What issues should the business be aware of when embarking on a social media presence?

• Outline to Dr Dorothy "Dodo" Little why the business should also be considering using Social Media as an avenue for communicating with their customers and promoting their brand.
• Review and critique, including providing screen captures, the social media presences of three (3) other businesses that sell similar products toDr Dorothy "Dodo" Little's.
• How should the business manage their social media presence?
• Develop a draft Social Media Policy for the business that they can implement if they were to embark on a social media strategy.

Report: Conclusions and Recommendations to the Business: Your report should include separate conclusions and recommendations sections.

• Conclusions provide a summary of your key findings from the body of the report.
• Recommendations provide a summary of the recommendations to the business based on the research conducted in the report.